Theme: Our Voices, Our Actions, Our Demand: Uphold women’s health and rights now!
Recognition of rights in the pursuit of equality in the social, economic and legal positions between genders, has been a long and complex struggle. May 28th being the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, coordinated by the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) was commemorated since 1987 to advocate for women’s rights, especially regarding sexual and reproductive health. Still today, women’s human rights, and particularly sexual and reproductive rights, continue to be systematically violated worldwide.
In matters of reproductive health, for example, decisions on childbearing are influenced to a greater or lesser extent by a range of people such as the women’s sexual partner, family members, the doctor or midwife and peers. The freedom to decide, and safe spaces for women and girls are created not only by the people who surround them, but also by the political and economic structures that shape our societies. These include women’s rights to their bodies and to health, as well as to equality and non-discrimination. This day provides women with more information about sexual and reproductive rights and control over their reproductive health.
HOW TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON WOMEN’S HEALTH
- Share the information on your social media platforms
- Making women aware of medical facilities, contraception, and other support, protecting women from HIV/AIDS, and securing access to safe and legal abortion facilities. All these issues impact women’s health, hence must be raised, and addressed.
- Support and campaign for women’s freedom to make their own decisions about their reproductive health so as to reduce people influence including the woman’s sexual partner, family members, the physician or midwife, and peers, all play a role in influencing her reproductive health decisions to varying degrees.
- Use your voice and call for safe and legal abortions in your state or country because, countless women die from unsafe and unhygienic abortions.
FACTS ABOUT WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
- It encompasses the right to positive and healthy relationships, health services that are accessible, safe, and equitable, access to reliable information, effective and inexpensive means of contraception, and timely support and assistance in connection to unwanted pregnancy.
- Different life stages correlate to various aspects of female sexual and reproductive health — these include the menstrual cycle, the ability to become pregnant, sexually transmitted infections and chronic health issues (such as polycystic ovary syndrome), and the menopausal transition.
- A healthy sexual and reproductive system is essential for women’s holistic health and well-being.
- That decision-making power is essential for women, including whether or not to have children.
- Safe sex practices are critical for women’s sexual and reproductive health of sexually active women of all ages.
WHY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION ON WOMEN’S HEALTH IS IMPORTANT
- Topics affecting women that are left uncovered such as access to quality healthcare, HIV/AIDS and how it affects women, access to contraceptives, access to safe and legal abortion, how governments can do more to ensure that women are safe, and so on are discussed by women and health organizations. Some of these topics are usually considered taboo.
- The day allows every organization or individual to mobilize their communities behind a priority issue suited to the local circumstances. Solutions must be adapted to the locality and the issues on hand and not treated as a one size fits all approach.
- Knowledge of sexual and reproductive health helps in preventing unwanted and high-risk pregnancies. Such knowledge, as well as prenatal and postnatal care, saves women’s lives daily.
We can begin to advance our commitment to ensuring women’s health.
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